Close Relationships: Marriage, Parenting, Friendship and Happiness

So far, we've learned how and why our relationships bring happiness. But of course, not all relationships are the same; what it takes to cultivate, sustain, and reap the benefits from them varies, depending on the type of relationship we're talking about. Starting with the research on marriage and romantic relationships, "It's complicated". Thankfully, pioneering research by John Gottman and Robert Levenson provides direction on skills that help foster lasting, happy partnerships.

Why bother marrying? Have you heard of the classic Marshmallow experiment in Psychology? See in this video a nice animated explanation of how instant-gratification plays a role in marriage. As you watch Dr.Dacher's next video, consider these popular, and scientifically interesting questions: Does getting married boost happiness? Are happy people more likely to get married? Are there other reasons why marriage might (or might not) lead to happiness? 

Relationships, Marriage, and Happiness (Dr.Dacher in this video discusses how relationships and marriage contribute to our happiness)

Husbands and wives can drive each other crazy as they age, but a new study suggests marriage may actually protect them from a decline in happiness over time. Are married people happier? Read this article to know more, based on this research study: Yap, S. C., Anusic, I., & Lucas, R. E. (2012). Does personality moderate reaction and adaptation to major life events? Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey. Journal of research in personality, 46(5), 477-488.  

Certain negative communication styles are so lethal to a relationship that Dr. John Gottman calls them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Watch this great animated 2 min video explaining these horsemen concept. They predict relationship failure with over 90% accuracy if the behavior isn't changed. So, what can you do? Don't worry, I will not have you read his book now (although it will be great if you could, but just take time to listen to the summary in the next video). Watch this 2 min animated video.

The 7 Principles For Making Marriage Work by John Gottman - Relationship Advice ► Book Summary

Do you think your culture is "touch-deprived"? How might your culture's customs and attitudes around touch help to foster or hinder happiness? Recently, scientists have started to document how fundamental touch is to our social lives; touch signals safety and trust, boosts health, and reduces stress. Results highlight another system that has developed precisely for connecting with others--and highlights the role that simple touches. Listen to Dr.Dacher 's talk on the Science of Touch.

Here are other relationships: parent-child and friendships-- and its connection to happiness:

Parenting and happiness: The link between parenting and happiness is a controversial topic in the science of happiness. How do you think some of the constructs implicated in happiness like "positive emotion", "purpose", or "connection" factor into what happens to happiness when people become parents? This article covers a recent, comprehensive study of the links between parenting and happiness, titled "The pains and pleasures of parenting: When, why, and how is parenthood associated with more or less well-being?", published in 2013 in the journal Psychological Bulletin.

Friendships and Happiness: Research suggests that the number of close friends people report having has declined by one-third over the past generation (at least in the United States). Why does that trend matter?  How do you think the quality versus quantity of friendships factor into your happiness? Does one seem more important than the other to you? In this essay, Juliana Breines reviews current thinking on the advantages (as well as the limitations) associated with the different kinds of friendships we enjoy in life: virtual, long-distance, and very close.